Although plenty of Radeon HD 3870 X2 pictures have found their way onto the internet, there has been relatively little to look at when it comes to cooling. CHIPHELL has managed to get hold of some nice close-ups, which you can see below. Based on initial impressions, the cooler doesn’t look too impressive, but at the end of the day it’s real world performance that counts so we’ll have to wait and see.

I like those cynlinder-over-block design heatsinks when there's a good density of those metal cylinders over a certain area of the metal block, you'll have a boost in the surface area meaning better dissipation.

Agreed about the fan in the middle.. Also, When the air going over the first heatsink reaches the second one, it will be warm air already.. Im guessing that 2nd core is going to run quite warm.. but who knows.

I dont see why there is a coating on the little cylindrical towers. The copper block looks hand fettled, so I'd say this isnt a production one. i wonder what the production ones will be like, I guess we'll need to wait and see how it does.

good point eh, thinking about it, it should be cheaper for amd to produce one x2 3870 than two regular 3870's. so technically the x2 3870 should be the cheaper option. on the other hand, one x2 3870 should have a higher intrinsic value due to its more compact design and the possibility to go crossfire (x) on a cheaper one (two) pci-e mobo

It's going to be around the $450 range if the article I read here a week or so ago is true.

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Fair price to ask. 2x HD 3870s should be $440, but since no one is selling at the recommended price it will be like $250+ x 2 for 2 HD 3870s. Not to mention you need a CrossFire board. A HD 3870 X2 is CrossFire on the board so it can even work on a nVidia chipset.

Agreed about the fan in the middle.. Also, When the air going over the first heatsink reaches the second one, it will be warm air already.. Im guessing that 2nd core is going to run quite warm.. but who knows.

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Ahhh yeah, but think about. Its designed to direct air outside of your case. If the fan was in the middle then it would direct air both ways, out of the case, and in your case. Its designed to create a tunnel through the card over the heatsinks and out of the case. But your right, im sure the second will run warmer, but not too much to an extent of where it will be an issue, just physics.

Ahhh yeah, but think about. Its designed to direct air outside of your case. If the fan was in the middle then it would direct air both ways, out of the case, and in your case. Its designed to create a tunnel through the card over the heatsinks and out of the case. But your right, im sure the second will run warmer, but not too much to an extent of where it will be an issue, just physics.

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I'm sure once the card is at 3D operating temp, both cores will prob be about the same temp. I wonder, though, just how loud that blower will be?

I'm sure once the card is at 3D operating temp, both cores will prob be about the same temp. I wonder, though, just how loud that blower will be?

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Knowing the history , probably pretty loud. But to me, its really not that big of an issue. Even on my HD 2900 the fan can get quite loud. But whatever, for us, running cards like these we have a few fans in the case already. When im gaming, the volume is up anyways. But yeah, the trend so far has been quite a bit louder than nvidia. But whatev!

Knowing the history , probably pretty loud. But to me, its really not that big of an issue. Even on my HD 2900 the fan can get quite loud. But whatever, for us, running cards like these we have a few fans in the case already. When im gaming, the volume is up anyways. But yeah, the trend so far has been quite a bit louder than nvidia. But whatev!

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I think nVidia learned their lesson with the GeForce 5x000 leafblower lineup. ATI hasn't had that kind of criticism yet - looks like they're digging for it

Just pray that the 3870X2 works like two 3870 in crossfire. If it does, 3870X2 would be the best graphics card coming from ATI. Why? Cause you only need a single PCI-E board which means cheaper means of going x-fire.

Knowing the history , probably pretty loud. But to me, its really not that big of an issue. Even on my HD 2900 the fan can get quite loud. But whatever, for us, running cards like these we have a few fans in the case already. When im gaming, the volume is up anyways. But yeah, the trend so far has been quite a bit louder than nvidia. But whatev!

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Totally agreed. I dare to say that those with such high end cards PROBABLY has at least 5.1speakers. I always blast em thus i can't really hear the fans spinning. But at 100% it's freaking loud.